Cardboard Cathedral, Christchurch (must see)

The Cardboard Cathedral, formally the Transitional Cathedral, is one of Christchurch’s clearest symbols of life after the 2011 earthquake. It stands on the site of the former Saint John the Baptist Church, which was demolished after the quakes. Built to serve the Anglican Diocese while Christ Church Cathedral in Cathedral Square remained unusable, it opened in August 2013 and quickly became a landmark in its own right: not a copy of the old cathedral, but a practical, modern response to loss and disruption.

The building was designed by Japanese architect Shigeru Ban in association with Christchurch firm Warren and Mahoney. Ban, often described as a “disaster architect” because of his humanitarian work in post-crisis settings, designed the cathedral pro bono. The A-frame structure rises about 21 meters above the altar and uses timber, steel, a concrete slab foundation, polycarbonate roofing, eight shipping containers, and 96 large cardboard tubes coated for waterproofing and fire resistance. Despite its nickname, the building was designed to last for decades, with an expected lifespan often given as around 50 years.

For visitors, the cathedral’s appeal lies in the way it turns modest materials into a dignified public space. From outside, its steep triangular form has the look of a shelter made permanent enough for civic life. Inside, the cardboard tubes line the roof and walls, while triangular stained-glass panels bring color and light into the worship space. The cathedral seats about 700 people and was planned not only for services, but also for concerts, civic events, and community gatherings.

The Cardboard Cathedral is often described as the only cathedral in the world made substantially of cardboard, and its use of paper tubes has drawn international attention for being inventive, economical, and environmentally conscious. Today, it remains one of the most meaningful stops in central Christchurch: a cathedral born from emergency, shaped by restraint, and still carrying the city’s story of resilience, adaptation, and renewal.